Contributing editor Becky Bullard is a professional fitness instructor and fitness consultant and an expert in the field of nutrition. She is an accomplished power lifter having set numerous records and has held several titles. Her greatest accomplishment came in 2002 when the U.S. Power lifting Federation declared her the second best bench presser of all-time in the world for her weight class.

Becky’s journey started in the year 2000. After settling into a
sedentary lifestyle and gaining about 10 pounds a year for several years, she decided to join a local gym. There, she met Phil Harrington, then chairman of the U.S. Power lifting Federation. “I learned a lot from Phil about good, sound nutrition and exercise and it wasn’t long before I noticed how much better I felt.” Through hard work and dedication, Becky went from 165 pounds to a lean 120 in just six months!

Shortly thereafter, she was introduced to power lifting and in just two months began competing, breaking the North Carolina state bench press record on her first attempt. “Little did I know that joining that gym would lead to power-lifting records and a whole new career, and lifestyle, in health, nutrition, and nutritional products”.

Becky now owns and operates her own fitness center in North Carolina and enjoys helping others to achieve their on personal health and fitness goals. She has trained many successful women power lifters and believes that “you don’t have to look like a man to lift like one.”

Tony Long is passionate about good health. After surviving a near fatal heart condition in 1996 at the age of 38, he became determined to improve his condition through nutrition and exercise, not medication.

“While in my late 30’s, I was diagosed with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. My blood pressure was 210/117, my cholesterol level was over 400 and I weighed 240 lbs. My doctor said I was a walking time bomb.” Shortly after being diagnosed with severe cardiovascular disease, Tony found himself in the emergency room suffering from chest pains and it was determined that his aorta was 95% blocked. Surgery was performed on his heart, thus preventing a heart attack that according to his doctors would have been fatal.

“The doctors all agreed that my condition was hereditary and that I would have to be on a lot medication for the rest of my life. I was prescribed 6 different medications, all this and I was just 38 years old. That’s when I decided that I needed a lifestyle change and that I needed to do something about my condition.” Tony began to learn more about his disease and determined that he could greatly improve his odds through proper nutrition and exercise. He began an areobic exercise program and lost 70 pounds the first year. From there he went to resistance training and hasn’t looked back. Over the years, subsequent tests has revealed no further evidence of cardiovascular disease. “I am convienced that by taking matters into my own hands and not relying on medication, I may have saved my own life.”

Since then, Tony has worked as both a personal trainer and fitness consultant, helping others and sharing his techniques on how he overcame his disease through proper nutrition, supplementation, and exercise.